Putin is haunted by Gaddafi's fate, realizes arrest warrant is ominous sign - Portnikov

He shared his analysis on Espreso TV. 

“Putin is a man guided by existential feelings. He is haunted by the concept that he is some kind of embodiment of Muammar Gaddafi (eccentric autocratic Libyan leader 1969-2011, and one of the richest men of all time - ed.) People close to Putin said that when he watched Gaddafi's ignominious death, his complexion changed from white to gray. He had watched as, over years, Gaddafi went from leading the Libyan Revolution, to heading the Jamahiriya (a form bof government - ed.), his extravagant international visits came complete with camels, bodyguards, and a host of associates. He hosted people in his own travelling tent-like construction. He even made peace with the West after committing terrorist acts. And then suddenly the tide turned. The Libyans themselves hunted him down and killed him like a wild animal. Then everyone said: 'In a few months, this is the way he will go'” he said.

Vitaly Portnikov said that Gaddafi's death terrified Putin.

“And Putin is guided by the aim of not ending up like Gaddafi. Thinking back to all the different people who have, over the years, received an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, Gaddafi was among them. No doubt, in this sense, we can say that Putin realizes that an arrest warrant is a black mark against him. The kind that pirates once sent to their enemies, if we translate it into the language of the Middle Ages. Putin remembers that once Gaddafi's was issued, he was gone in a few months,” Portnikov said.

• On March 17, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin.